Pointing shrinkage cracks - Sandstone pointing has cracked.

Patio flagstones (slabs), concrete flags, stone flags including yorkstone and imported flagstones.
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Dougnloz
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:32 am
Location: Stroud, Glos.

Post: # 101327Post Dougnloz

Hi all, long time paving layer, first time poster. I laid a large sandstone patio in July and August of this year. The pointing method we use is to press in a damp mix and "troweling" off with a brush handle. We always point on the same day as laying so that it bonds to the solid mortar bed. It gives a lovely solid finish and we've never gad any trouble. But this patio was laid in particularly hot dry conditions and some of the pointing has since shrunk a little, leaving a 1mm crack down one side of the pointing joints.
I'm thinking of trying to fill the cracks with a resin based sealer or joint stabiliser before the weather gets in. Any opinions or advice?
Doug.
D Hawkins

r896neo
Posts: 521
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:38 pm

Post: # 101331Post r896neo

There's no short cut here... I doubt any sort of attempt at a fix won't last properly.


Out with the grinder :(

lutonlagerlout
Site Admin
Posts: 15184
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 101334Post lutonlagerlout

my thoughts too...

shrinkage cracks can happen to the best of us

but theres no quick fix


LLL
"what,you want paying today??"

YOUR TEXT GOES HERE

Dougnloz
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:32 am
Location: Stroud, Glos.

Post: # 101353Post Dougnloz

Oh bother, or words to that effect. Not what I wanted to hear. It's an 80sqm patio so I'm going to have to try a couple of things before I bankrupt myself repointing it. I'll let you know if I get any success.
D Hawkins

lutonlagerlout
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Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 101356Post lutonlagerlout

Doug no disrespect mate but its 2014

a brush handle??

marshalltown 81 brick jointer or pointing trowel all the way

cost very little and make life easier

LLL
"what,you want paying today??"

YOUR TEXT GOES HERE

TheVictorianCobbleCo
Posts: 207
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:57 pm
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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Post: # 101488Post TheVictorianCobbleCo

If the cracks are not extensive its quite feasible to pay a days wage to chop out that grout with a hammer and suitable width chisel or screwdriver. It tends to come out quite easily. (Its fairly common here in Cape town with our hotter weather) There will be a variation in grout colour for a few months but it should fade to an acceptable level within months.
W.G.Carter-Smith
http//:victoriancobbles.co.za

Simon@Pristine Pathways
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:25 pm
Location: Merseyside
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Post: # 101521Post Simon@Pristine Pathways

Do you guys add any additives to your pointing mix? we usually mix in SBR and never have any problems.

Simon

GB_Groundworks
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Location: high peak
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Post: # 101549Post GB_Groundworks

good idea to cover it in really baking sun like you would concrete
Giles

Groundworks and Equestrian specialists, prestige new builds and sports pitches. High Peak, Cheshire, South Yorkshire area.

http://www.gbgroundworks.com

lutonlagerlout
Site Admin
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Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 101565Post lutonlagerlout

if its a hot day I would always mist the pointing during and after its done
officially you are supposed to cover pointing with damp hessian on hot days but not sure of the practicality of this
LLL
"what,you want paying today??"

YOUR TEXT GOES HERE

mike builder/landscaper
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: north yorkshire

Post: # 101572Post mike builder/landscaper

If it's hot weather and we know we are ready for pointing up, we always give the Indian stone a thorough soaking the nite before, to stop the flags taking the moisture out of the pointing mix to quickly, just a little tip to pass on to anybody that's interested.
m.atkinson

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